Waders to terns

A first-winter Killdeer proved somewhat popular at Sandwick (Shetland) from 13th, seemingly set to follow in the footsteps of a previous Shetland individual that overwintered, while a late Dotterel performed well on Dungeness Beach (Kent) throughout the day on 15th. At least four American Golden Plovers were located, including a juvenile with Golden Plovers on Lelant Saltings, Hayle (Cornwall) from 3rd-5th, with the resident Hudsonian Whimbrel still surviving in Boat Cove, Perranuthnoe (Cornwall), a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Co. Wexford) on at least 19th-22nd. The Lesser Yellowlegs remained at Cheddar Reservoir (Somerset) until 17th; and the Oare Marshes (Kent) Long-billed Dowitcher all month. Grey Phalaropes were ‘inland’ at Great Hardmead Lake, Amwell (Herts) on 6th, Aberthaw (South Wales) on 7th-9th, Tetney Haven (Lincs) on 7th, Tophill Low Reservoir (East Yorks) on 7th-12th, and at Holme Pierrpont GP (Notts) on 24th. The adult Bonaparte’s Gull remained at Dawlish Warren NNR (Devon) throughout, with the only surviving ‘regular’ Ring-billed Gull in Britain being the adult roosting each evening on Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes (Hants) from 18th (one was also seen at Chelmarsh Reservoir, Salop, on 29th). A sub-adult Azorean Atlantic Gull was photographed at Wembury Point (South Devon) on 23rd; while in Ireland, the adult Forster’s Tern continued to be seen in Galway Bay. A first-winter Forster’s Tern was also seen in England, in fact the first there since 2003, showing